Law, Diversity & Justice Concentration

About the LDJ Concentration (Major)

The Law, Diversity & Justice Concentration (major) is an interdisciplinary course of study for Fairhaven College students who are interested in law, diversity and access to the legal system for under-served communities. The rigorous curriculum emphasizes a critical examination of how issues such as race, class, gender, sexual orientation and disability intersect with the legal system. The concentration builds the skills necessary for success after college: critical reading, writing, research, oral communication and analytical ability.

As with any Fairhaven Concentration, students must be formally admitted to Fairhaven College to pursue a Law, Diversity & Justice Concentration, and must also satisfy the Fairhaven Core Curriculum (instead of the regular GURs that other Western students follow). Through the Fairhaven College Concentration Seminar and faculty advisement, students combine the required Law, Diversity and Justice curriculum with courses throughout the University to develop the skills and knowledge necessary for success in law school and other careers in social justice work. Students design their concentrations with a focus that suits their particular interests; past concentrations have included immigration reform, environmental protection, queer advocacy, alternative dispute resolution, labor law and tribal court systems.

Courses

With faculty guidance, students combine the LDJ course work with Western Washington University courses. The LDJ Concentration develops the skills and knowledge necessary for success in law school and other careers in advocacy.

LDJ Concentration Requirements (major)

All Fairhaven Concentrations are designed in the Fairhaven College Concentration Seminar and students must gain the approval of a three-person Concentration Committee.

Credits required for LDJ Concentration (major): Variable under faculty advisement. The average concentration is 80-90 credits.Admission to the Law, Diversity and Justice Concentration (major):

About the LDJ (Minor)

The Law, Diversity & Justice Minor is an interdisciplinary course of study for students who are interested in law, diversity and access to the legal system for under-served communities that includes the classes taught in the Law, Diversity and Justice Concentration. This rigorous curriculum, open to all Western students, is taught in seminars by a faculty that includes attorneys using law school texts. The minor welcomes students who desire to effect change and who have the potential to act as leaders and role models in their communities using legal knowledge and processes. While the Law, Diversity & Justice Concentration (major) began in 1991, the Law, Diversity and Justice Minor will start enrolling students in Spring 2012. Law, Diversity & Justice Minor Requirements Total LDJ Minor Credits Required: minimum of 23-28 credits.

LDJ Minor Requirements

Admission to LDJ Minor:

1) FAIR 311b The American Legal System (5) or PLSC 311 Intro to Law and Judicial Process (5) (with grade of C or better), and